Happy New Year!

It's 2008.  Feels like a good fit so far. 

We witnessed a marriage proposal tonight.  Very sweetly done...until he put the engagement ring on the wrong hand.  lol

 

That's so unfair!

Ok, something that I probably shouldn't be admitting publicly.  Sometimes I have vivid dreams about finding a bathroom and having a lot of trouble finding one...which usually means I *really need to go! 

So anyway, in the wee hours this morning I was having a *fantastic dream.  I was young and slender with a great body and fabulous long, thick, red hair.  I was taking a shower and waiting for Patrick Dempsey to join me.  And then I realized *in real life* that I really needed to go potty!  So I had to drag myself from the dream and go.  It wasn't even "I have to pee!" dream.

           ...I'm bummed.  I didn't get to see Patrick Dempsey naked.

National Treasure

I forgot...

The Movie was "OK."  It had some good points.  Nothing to write home about.

So....Christmas

 

I was Grinchy this year.  The Female Scrooge.  Just not into it.  However you want to say it. 

The Hubby came home and we have been enjoying Daddy/Hubby being here since then.  We will all be sad when he has to go back.  I had a large Honey-Do list for him, but it seems there really isn't anything to do.  Hubby pushed the button for the garage door and it went right on up.  I swear I could hear it laughing at me.  I tried maybe seven times just two days before Hubby got here and it wouldn't go up at all.  Who knew Garage Doors could be stubborn tricksters.  My vehicles radio has been on good behavior, too.  Sometimes my dashboard would click and the radio and windshield wipers would quit.  Lovely.  There are still a few things I'd like him to look at.  Nothing major like last time, though.

Christmas was a quiet day.  My kids were blessed with a fabulous Christmas from many helping hands. My Dad was here visiting for the night, so he was able to spend Christmas morning with us.  I was extremely happy and satisfied to have so much of my family in one place on Christmas Morning.  I loved it.  Christmas Eve was the same...we went to Church and then out to eat.  It was an enjoyable Holiday.  Our waitress on Christmas Eve had a limited understanding of English.  It was a tiny bit frustrating, but we did see  amusement in it, also.  We told her we had seven people.  So she came and gave us a highchair and then tried to take the sixth chair away.  We were like..."There are seven of us."  She said OK and continued to take the chair away.  "We need that chair!" She finally got it and gave us back our chair, lol.  She asked us what we would like to drink, and I told her seven waters.  She brought us six.  Then she brought us six fortune cookies.  Seven must be one of those English words that she just doesn't get.  She has it confused with six.  We were OK withit all...adapt and keep on keeping on, lol.  It wasn't like it was a big deal or anything.  It was amusing, though. 

Since Christmas we have been bumming around playing family video games, lol.  I really need to get the house cleaned up.  Tomorrow is New Year's Eve!  I don't want this years mess taken into next year.  Bad Juju.  :-)

 

 

 

My Parent-isms

I have some theories on children and child rearing.  This is one that I shared with the hubby this morning.

One child usually plays with their parent/s while demanding most of the parents' attention, but is mostly quiet.

Two children will sometimes play nicely together, sometimes fight, and sometimes demand a parent's attention, and sometimes be quiet.

Three children are LOUD.

Four or more children just encourage stampeding.

Come to my house if you want proof of the last one.

Merry Christmas!

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The Twelve Cats of Christmas

 

For those of you who are owned by cats, this is a delight!!! I pulled this from one of my cat yahoo groups.

The Twelve Cats of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas when I brought home my tree
My 12 cats were laughing at me.

On the second day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the third day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
3 Missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the fourth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the fifth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the sixth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the seventh day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
7 half dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.



On the eighth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
8 shattered ornaments
7 half dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.


On the ninth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
9 chewed through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the tenth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
10 tinsel hair balls
9 chewed through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me

On the eleventh day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
11 broken branches
10 tinsel hairballs
9 chewed through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my 12 cats laughing at me.

On the twelfth day of Christmas I looked at my poor tree
12 cats a-climbing
11 broken branches
10 tinsel hair balls
9 chewed through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands and my
12 cats laughing at me.

Good Housekeeping Tip
Another Maxine Tip...

Always keep several

get well cards on the mantle...
So if unexpected guests arrive, they will think you've been sick

and unable to clean.

 

Behind again

The Hubby flew in Wednesday night, so I have been pretty busy.  I would say I have been pampering him, but he has pampered me, also. I didn't even have to cook dinner last night.  We had yummy food.  For the first time ever, all six of us went to a restaurant and didn't have any leftovers.  Every bite was eaten.  Guess we should feed the kids more often! 

So far we have been pretty busy as a family.  We have gone to the local Museums and had a blast.  We have been out to eat and played some Wii together.  Of course, there are only 4 players/controllers, so the youngest and I usually sit out.  I've gotten to play a little, though.  Mario Party 8 on the Wii is a lot of fun.  We have determined that a man has definitely created the games and the hand motions to go with them.  I was a little appalled to see some of them.  To play some of the games, you have to wipe your mind clean and be innocent as innocent can be.  Just trust me.

It's time for some Mommy and Daddy time on our own.  We are off to our favorite place for a good show and some good food.  Mostly, though, we will enjoy each other.  We might even catch the new National Treasure movie if we have time.  I'll let you know if it's any good. 

Hard to believe Christmas is only 3 days away!  I still have a little work to do in that front.  I baked some cookies today to give to friends, so I'm moving along slowly.  LoL

Fun times right now.  Fun times.

Better

Monday got better.  The school day hadn't progressed very far when the school nurse called me.  She said my son was in her office complaining of a headache.  I go to the school to give him Tylenol.  He didn't even have a bump on his head.  I think maybe his John Lennon hair-do saved the day.  I chatted with him for a minute and my conclusion is that he just wanted Tylenol.  He likes it.  His Teacher had told him to tell him if his head started hurting or anything.  Well, he will use any excuse to get Tylenol.  I asked him about his fall and he was like "Huh?  OH!" LoL.   He's fine.  My daughter informed me after school that she landed on her bottom, not her head.  So all is good.  I walked them all out to their buses today.  We don't need any repeat incidents.

Later Monday morning I went to the school where the school bestowed my kids with gifts.  I cried many tears and gave many hugs. 

The day ended up with some frustration, but I rested up to face today.  Today was a whirlwind...we shall see what comes of today's events. You just never know...

My week is about to improve 100% because I'm about to see the hubby.  Yay!

Are you Serious?

I am well aware of Manic Mondays, but give me a break!

It's just past 8:30 and my day is all ready shot.

I woke up late (nothing new there, though) and the kids were running around in their underwear so I told them to get dressed.  Five minutes later they were still pretending to be dogs in their underwear.  Come on now, get dressed!  They get dressed and they are so LOUD that they wake up my youngest.  My youngest instantly becomes a choker necklace on my neck.  He starts screaming and hollering every time I put him down.  So I trying to rush around like mad trying to get the kids off to school with a 31 pound toddler attached to my leg.  Literally, he was riding on my foot screaming.  I managed to get everyone their coats and everyone breakfast and shoes (not in that order).  The bus came, and I told the kids "Watch out for ice!  If it looks wet, it's ice!"  They get safely to the curb and the bus doors open and they step out into the street and BOTH of them went down.  Clunk!  Heads on the curb.  I rush out in my socks with my girls swinging free because I hadn't had time to put a bra on.  My daughter got up and got on the bus and the bus driver oohed and ahhed and rubbed her head for me (Her head landed on her folded up hood!) but my oldest was standing on the curb crying yelling at me that it was all my fault.  Yeah, it probably was.  I should have walked them out the garage door.  So I came back in the house (good thing about socks on ice, you stick!) and called the school to talk to my son's teacher.  I told her what happened and asked her if she could please watch him.  I wanted her to know what was up if he was out of sorts or his head started hurting, or he started vomiting, etc.  He Clunked it pretty good.  I thought for sure he had split it, but he didn't.

So, now it's time for my third born to get on his bus.  I tell him I'm taking him out the garage door.  I had already given him his heavy coat.  I mean, it's not even 20 degrees outside.  It's COLD!  I turn aroundand he has on a little jacket.  @@  I signal to his driver that I'll be out in a second and find his coat.  I ended up walking him out the front door.  I walked him, though, so we could avoid the ice.  After he was safely on the bus, I went back inside and grabbed the trash to take out through the garage.  Except one thing.  The garage door only went halfway up and then stopped and rolled back down.  I just wanted to scream up to Heaven "WHAT NEXT??"  This house has fallen apart in the last week.  The sink in my kids' bathroom has sprung not one, not two, but three leaks.  Out of both handles and the drain pipe.  My toilet in my room has started leaking.  *Something* is making a motor chugging sound in the garage.  I think it's the deep freezer.  And our sump pump has been cycling.  And NOW the garage door won't go up?  We just had it fixed two years ago.  Brand new springs. 

Today is going to be one busy day.  I don't' have time to be sitting here typing this, but dang it....I have to vent.  My morning has been so crazy. 

Please...nothing else in the house break...and let my kids stick to the ice.

           ...maybe I should have let them go in their socks, too.

No Way

Less than 10 days until Christmas.

I'm not feeling it right now.

And there is even snow on the ground.

I'm just grumpy.

Maybe I need to get out my Nativity scenes as a reminder.

::tear::

So, I was working on making a scarf tonight.  My kids asked me what I was doing and I told them I was making a scarf.  "But why, Mommy?"  I told them I was making them for the Church so that the Church could take them to people who don't have any place to live.  I explained that the scarf I made would help keep a man warm this winter who otherwise would have had nothing to warm his neck and face.  So my daughter made a tag for the scarf.  It's really cute...she made a scarf out of a paper towel, and on the bottom she put a little square that says "A scarf is love to you."

It choked me up.

2nd son:  "I'll pour juice for you!" (speaking to 3rd son)

::pours juice::

2nd son:  "Whoa, I missed.  I need to get the paper towels.  Just wait, please."

Mom:  ::just chuckles softly to herself and subtly tosses a towel to her sons::

Was that in my job description?

My four-year-old peed in the potty and then my two year old threw little paper tags into the toilet.  So guess who had to reach in there and pull the cards out before the toilet was flushed?

I really don't remember that being in my job description.  Sadly, it's not the first time I have had to "go fishing."

Snow Day Fun

My kids made me "pretty."

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Pollution

Has put Mother nature into Menopause.  She keeps having Hot Flashes!

Down to the teens early this week but up in the 60's at the end of the week? 

                     ...yup...hot flash.

Me:  "It's cold in here!"

My son:  "No it's not.  I'm warm, and I don't have a shirt on."

Me:  "I'm freezing!"

My son: "You are always cold.  You are weird like that."

All of this in a soft voice as he played his game boy and never even looked up, lol.

I'm very proud

Today my oldest found a wad of money on the floor in a busy place.  It was a $20 and a bunch of ones.  He asked the people around us if it was theirs.  They checked and it wasn't.  So he took the money to the front desk and told them he found it on the floor.  I think he gave it to someone who didn't actually work there, and that the guy pocketed the money, but the point is that Jacob did the right thing.  He didn't keep what wasn't his.  The best you can do is the right thing and hope that the next person does, too.  I don't really think anyone went up to claim it, but it's the principal of the situation.  My son admitted he wanted to keep the ones so he could play more games, but he knew they weren't his. 

::beams with pride::

Contemplations

It's my grouchy time of month.  Which means I am yelling and I don't like it.  So I'm trying to stay to myself right now.  It's better that way.

Let's see what has been happening here.  We had a Birthday.  My oldest is eight now!  I can't even believe I've been a Mommy for eight years.  I sometimes like to sit and think about the past years and try to see how I have changed as a person and a Mom.  I seem to be in a constant state of metamorphosis as a parent.  Always adjusting.  Always tweaking.  Always trying to attain that mythical state of being called the "Perfect Parent."  I know I shouldn't set those kinds of goals for myself.  I mean, that would be like trying to become a Fairy.  We all know Fairies don't exist...so we don't try to be one.  You would think my intelligent side would take over and I would just try to be the "Best Mom I can be." 

December has hit with a bang.  I'm full hog into Christmas Shopping.  It does make it rather difficult for me that I can only go shopping on Mondays in the morning.  I have to arrange it around work hours, pay checks, and the kids being in school.  I don't know what I am going to do next year when my youngest will be too old to take Christmas Shopping with me.  I guess I'll cross that hurdle when I get to it. 

I've got about half of my cards signed.  Need to address those and put a picture of my third born in them and send them off.  I'm not really sure why...but my third born is my only child who had never had a formal picture taken of him by himself.  He would point it out every now and then.  I had to sit and think really hard about how I would feel if I had three siblings and they all had pictures of themselves on the wall and there were none of me.  I did take a soccer picture of him and stick in the display of my oldest's picture book, but that hurt my oldest feelings.  So anyway, I ordered his picture from school this fall and when the Hubby comes home I will ask him to help me hang it on the wall.  I also have some wallets to send to family. 

I don't think there is anything else. Trying to keep up with life while still trying to stop to smell the roses.  Same old, same old. 

 

My Kids are at it again

There I was, innocently driving down the road...sound familiar?  And there were two Doberman type dogs (they looked like they were mixed with something) in a car riding in front of us.  They had a power back window and it was cracked so the dogs could stick their heads out.  Well, my windows were cracked.  At a red light, my kids started all going "Bark, bark, bark, bark" really, really loud and all in unison.  Well, except my youngest.  He was making a high pitched "oo" sound like a woof, lol.  The dogs went bananas.  Absolutely Bananas!  They went crazy.  Barking and running in circles in the back of their vehicle. I had to roll my windows up...all the barking was driving ME bananas!  From the four legged dogs and the two legged "dogs."  The driver looked back in his side mirror and I could see him cracking up.  Glad he was a good sport.